One piece post box



Sept. 25, 1962 E. H. CARTER ONE PIECE POST BOX 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17. 1959 INVENTOR fags/re C'arfcr Sept. 25, 1962 E. H. CARTER ONE PIECE POST BOX 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 17. 1959 INVENTOR 447H H Carfer Sept. 25, 1962 E. H. CARTER 3,

ONE PIECE POST BOX Filed Feb. 17. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR [aye/7e C'ar fer Sept. 25, 1962 E. H. CARTER 3,055,573

ONE PIECE POST BOX Filed Feb. 17. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR Eayerre H. Car/er I ray. I I 4 ,4:/7. M

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,055,573 ONE PIECE POST BOX Eugene H. Carter, Little Rock, Ark., assignor to Hoerner Boxes, Inc., Keokuk, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 793,923 13 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This application relates to a self locking one piece corner post box.

Boxes of the general configuration of the box of this invention have been made of several pieces requiring glue or stitching to hold them together. The box of this invention is particularly desirable for the shipping of turkeys and the ventilation entering the box on all four sides has contributed to its acceptance as has also the ability of the box for rapid set-up; they are generally shipped fiat and assembled by the customer. The superior strength of the box for stacking one upon the other even when heavily packed has also been a distinct advantage. The interfitting of the box without the use of glue or other fastening means makes the assembly of the 'box not only quicker but more economical. The stamping of the box from a single piece of material such as corrugated board greatly simplifies assembly of the box and minimizes the cost of both the material and the box made therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled bottom of the box.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the complete box from one end.

"FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the box from the other end.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 66 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the blank used in the assembly of the bottom of the box.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a jig on which the box may be assembled showing the box in different stages of assembly thereon.

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of the assembly jig with the box thereon in different stages of assembly.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the stages in the assembly.

FIGURE 11 is a further fragmentary sectional view illustrating further stages in the assembly and FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 1212 of FIGURE 1:1.

In the drawings similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The blank from which the box is formed is cut, slit and slotted as shown in FIGURE 7 and has a bottom 1 which is placed in the jig against the bottom of the rotary turntable 2 by forcing the bottom of the blank against the top of the turntable, the side members 3 of the turntable bend the side walls 4 of the blank vertically, at right angles to the bottom. Scored flaps 5 are then folded into infolded position against the side walls 4, with the tongues 6 on the flaps fitting into slots 7 in the bottom of the blank leaving Lip-standing on the side corners, post supports 8.

The turntable top 2 has a ball-bearing mounting 9 connecting it with the base 10. The operator may swing the box on the turntable to have one end toward him which is then assembled by folding one end 11 vertically as Patented Sept. 25, 1962 shown in FIGURES 8 and 10. The end walls 11 have post portions 12 at each of their ends and these portions 12 have sequentially carried thereby at their corner edges, corner post sections 13, 14, and 15 which are formed by vertical scores to form rectangular panels by lines parallel to each other as illustrated in FIGURE 7. Sections 13 and 1 4 are then bent around the post supports 8 as shown in FIGURE 10. Section 14 is scored horizontally as at 17 to allow its bottom 16 to be folded substantially parallel of the bottom of the box as shown in this figure to pass it over the side wall 4 and after passing over the side wall the section 16 is then straightened vertically and the section 14, where its lower part 16 is brought around until its outer edge coincides with the outer edge of the portion 12 as shown in FIGURE 11. In this position it will be seen that the portion 1'4 overlaps the end 19 of the flap 5 to hold the flap against the side wall 4. The portion 16 forming part of the section 14 is cut out as shown at 18 to make room for the end 19 of the flap 5.

Section 15 is then slightly angularly bent in respect to its adjacent section 14, at its lower part 16, as shown in FIGURE 11 and this section has an upstanding tongue 20 thereon fitting into slot 21 between end 11 and its upper flap 22. The other corner of this end 11 is then assembled in a similar manner and the flap 22 is then infolded, overlying end wall 11. The flap 22 has tongues 23 interlocking with slots 23' adjacent the end 11 in bottom 1. The flap 22 and wall 11 having a hand hold 24 cut therein. The box is then swung on its jig and the other end similarly assembled.

The top of the box is likewise made of one piece and it is preferably made of the top section 25, side sections '26, end flaps 27 folded from the sides 26 and ends 28 folded over from the top and stapled to the end flaps 27 as shown at 29. One end of the top has a matching hand hold 30, matching the hand hold 24 in the bottom of the box, and the other end of the top is preferably cut out above the hand hold as at 31 to facilitate quick removal of the top.

It will be apparent that the blank can quickly be assembled into a post box with angular rigid posts with two of the walls of which bear directly upon the bottom of the box, one of which is integral with the end and the other within the box with an angular bend with section 15 to hold section 14 rigid, also post support 8 goes from the 'box bottom to the top of the post. The wrapped around sections of the posts are securely interlocked both by overlapping by the end wall flaps and by tongues and slots to maintain their tubular form and the ends and sides of the box are secured in vertical position by the wrap around of the post supports on the sides so that a rigid construction of the posts is produced and the 'box is likewise rigidly held together.

The top of the box being of more formal construction fits over the posts and is held up on them and high stacking of the boxes as thus assembled is possible. They bear considerable weight without any danger of crushing the boxes and their contents.

It will be apparent that many modifications of the structure of the invention may be made without departing therefrom as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A self-locking one piece corner post box in which the posts extend above the box side walls comprising a blank folded to include a bottom and side and end walls, and infolded flaps carried by the upper edges of each of said walls, the end walls having corner portions extending upwardly from the end walls to form post walls, first and second corner post sections and infolding sections shorter than the posts to fold under the end wall infolded flaps sequentially carried by said post walls, the first end wall corner post sections extending around the outside of the ends of the side walls and the first and second end wall corner post sections being folded into a triangular form, with said end post walls, said second sections extending to and bearing upon the box bottom, and means to lock said side walls, end walls and corner post sections permanently together in post box formation the locking means for the corner post sections including the end wall flaps folded over the infolding sections.

2. A self-locking one piece corner post box in which the posts extend above the box side walls comprising, a blank folded to include a bottom and side and end walls, and infolded flaps carried by the upper edges of each of said walls, the end walls having corner portions extending upwardly from the end walls to form post walls, first and second corner post sections sequentially carried by said post walls, said second end wall corner post sections being provided with projections and said end wall infolded flaps being provided with locking means to receive said projections thereunder to permanently secure the post sections together.

3. The box of claim 2 including means to interlock the side walls with the end wall corner post sections to retain the side walls and corner post sections permanently together.

4. A self-locking one piece corner post box in which the posts extend above the box side walls comprising, a blank folded to include a bottom and side and end walls, and infolded flaps carried by the upper edges of each of said walls, the end walls having corner portions extending upwardly from the end walls to form post walls, first and second corner post sections and infolding sections shorter than the posts to fold under the end wall infolded flaps sequentially carried by said post walls, said first corner post sections being folded inwardly overlapping from the outside the ends of the side walls, the second corner post sections being folded angularly from the first sections to the corner portions of the end wall and bearing upon the box bottom and forming a triangularly shaped post, and means including the flaps on the end walls folded over the infolding sections to retain said sections folded in triangular post position and the side walls infolded with the post sections.

5. A self-locking one piece corner post box in which the posts extend above the box side walls comprising, a blank folded to include a bottom and side and end walls, and infolded flaps carried by the upper edges of each of said walls, the end walls having corner portions extending upwardly from the end walls to form post walls, first,

second and third corner post sections sequentially carried by each of said post walls, corner portions of the side walls extending upwardly from the ends of the side walls to form post supports, the first and second end wall corner post sections being folded around the side wall post supports, and the third end wall corner post section being shortened and extending under the end wall infolded flaps, tongues projecting outwardly from the end wall flaps adjacent their sides, the bottom having slots therein adjacent the end walls to receive said tongues therein to lock the end wall flaps and third end Wall corner post sections in overlapping relation.

6. The box of claim 5 in which the third end wall corner section has an upwardly projecting tongue thereon, and the end walls and their infolded flaps have slots therebetween to receive said last named tongues therein to lock the said third end wall sections between the end walls and their infolded flaps.

7. The box of claim 5 in which the side infolded flaps at their ends extend under the second end wall corner post section to lock the infolded flap side end in infolded relation to the side walls.

8. The box of claim 5 in which the side infolded flaps have tongues projecting outwardly from their outer edges,

the bottom having slots therein adjacent the side walls to receive said last named tongues therein.

9. A self-locking one piece corner post box in which the posts extend above the box side walls comprising a blank folded to include a bottom and side and end walls, and infolded fiaps carried by the upper edges of each of said walls, the end walls having corner portions extending upwardly from the end walls to form post walls, first and second corner post section and infolding sections shorter than the posts to fold under the end wall infolded flaps sequentially carried by said post walls, corner portions of the side walls extending upwardly from the ends of the side walls to form post supports, the first and second end wall corner post sections being folded around the outside of the side wall post supports, the upper vertical free edge of the second section joining the corner portion of the end wall to form triangularly shaped posts, and means including the fiaps on the end walls folded over the infolding sections to retain said section in folded position.

10. A carton section composed of a unitary sheet of foldable paperboard cut, scored and erected to a wholly self-interlocked container section comprising a bottom, a pair of opposed end walls, a pair of opposed side walls and corner posts of triangular cross-section at each corner extending above said walls and each including a first panel integral with an end wall, a second panel integral with the first extending at a right-angle thereto, and a third panel integral with the second and extending obliquely between an end and side wall terminating in a tab secured between an end wall and means integral with the latter, a flap integral with a side wall projecting thereabove between said first and third panels and lying against the second panel, said second and third panels being slotted at their jointure and in bifurcated engagement thereat with a side wall.

11. A carton blank composed of a unitary sheet of foldable paperboard cut, scored and adapted to be erected to form a wholly self-interlocked container body with integral corner posts of triangilar cross-section projecting above the side walls of the container, comprising a rectangular bottom panel, a pair of opposed side wall panels hinged thereto, a pair of opposed outer end wall panels hinged thereto, the latter each including an inner end wall panel of equal height but lesser width hinged thereto, said inner end wall panel including tongue means projecting from its free longitudinal edge receivable in slot formed in said bottom panel contiguous to the hinge line of outer end wall panel, and post forming means at each end of said outer end wall panels comprising a first panel constituting the terminal end portion of an outer end wall panel severed from an inner end wall panel and extending beyond the fold line thereof, a second panel extending laterally from and hinged to the first panel and adapted to lie against an end portion of a side wall panel when erected, a third panel extending laterally from and partially hinged to and partially severed from the second panel and adapted to extend obliquely across a set-up box corner and at said line of severance to edgewise receive and embrace said side wall panel between said second and third panels, a tab projectable from a side wall into said corner above said line of severance for vertical post stabilization, and a hinged tab extending laterally from said third panel for reception between an outer end wall panel and an overfolded inner end wall panel.

12. A carton section composed of a unitary sheet of paperboard cut, scored and folded to a wholly self-interlocked container body with integral corner posts of triangular cross-section projecting above the side walls of the container, comprising a rectangular bottom panel, a pair of opposed side wall panels and a pair of opposed outer end Wall panels hinged thereto, the latter each including an inner end wall panel of equal height but lesser width hinged thereto, said inner end wall panel including tongue means projecting from its free longitudinal edge into slots formed in said bottom panel contiguous to the hinge line of outer end wall panel, and post means at each end of said outer end Wall panels comprising a first panel constituting the terminal end portion of said outer end wall panel severed from an inner end wall panel and extending beyond the fold line thereof, a second panel extending laterally from and hinged to the first panel and lying against an end portion of an outer side wall panel, a third panel extending laterally from and partially hinged to and partially severed from the second panel and extending obliquely across a carton corner and at said line of severence edgewise receiving said outer side Wall panel between said second and third panels, a hinged tab extending laterally from said third panel disposed between an outer end wall panel and an overfolded inner end wall panel, and a tab extending from a side wall into the corner post above said line of severence providing a vertical post stabilizer.

13. A container section composed of a unitary sheet of foldable corrugated paperboard cut, scored and folded to a wholly self-interlocked tray adapted to be stacked on and to support similar trays, comprising a bottom, a pair of opposed end walls, a pair of opposed side walls and corner posts of triangular cross-section at each corner extending above said walls and each including a first panel integral with an end wall, a second panel integral with the first extending at a right-angle thereto, and a third panel integral with the second and extending obliquely between an end and side wall terminating in a tab secured between an end wall and an inturned flap integral With the latter, said second and third panels being partially slotted at their jointure and in bifurcated engagement thereat with a side wall, and a vertical stabilizer flap extending from a side wall into each corner post against the second panel and between the first and third panels above said line of severance, said first and second panels presenting smooth unbroken exterior faces and each extending to the bottom of the tray and adapted to snugly receive thereover an all-enclosing cover section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,074,090 Loth Mar. 16, 1937 2,709,031 Gondek May 24, 1955 2,844,293 Whitney July 22, 1958 2,864,545 Royce Dec. 16, 1958 2,885,137 Guyer May 5, 1959 2,934,250 Stotz Apr. 26, 1960 2,986,320 Nicholls Mar. 30, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 777,366 Great Britain June 19, 1957 

